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Mosley hits back at claims of FIA bias

FIA president Max Mosley has hit back at suggestions the FIA is biased against McLaren and in favour of Ferrari, insisting the governing body is 'utterly neutral'

The FIA came under fire this week after championship leader Lewis Hamilton was striped of his Belgian Grand Prix victory for cutting the chicane while overtaking Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen in the closing laps of the race.

The McLaren driver was awarded by the race stewards a 25-second penalty, which demoted him to third place. The penalty was heavily criticised by many fans and pundits, with the FIA again being accused of bias against the Woking team and their driver.

"Any suggestion there is a bias for or against any team or driver is completely untrue, absolutely not," Mosley told Reuters today at Monza.

"I think it's a reflection, and I'm sorry to say this, of the stupidity of the people who say it because they haven't really thought the thing through and put themselves in the position of the people who have to take these very difficult decisions."

Mosley further emphasized the governing body will not get involved in the championship battle, although he stated his belief that Hamilton is still favourite to take the crown.

"I think he is a brilliant driver and it would be really excellent for Formula One and the world championship, if he won it," the FIA president said. "But that doesn't mean we are going to help him or hinder him. We are going to be utterly neutral.

"But that said, it would be brilliant if he won because he is a supreme talent and when it's difficult, that's when we see it. He has done a great job, and whilst we can admire, we mustn't assist or hinder."

Mosley revealed he himself was in Peru during the Belgian Grand Prix and was therefore only involved when he was contacted to be informed of what was going on.

"My immediate reaction was this is going to waste a great deal of everybody's time," Mosley said. "Which is true, it's what always happens. A tiny incident and it takes up hours of your time."

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